How to Follow Through on Plans
One of the most bizarre aspects of ADHD is a lack of following through on plans. It is like we get the satisfaction of doing something just by planning it and not by actually doing it. This leads to a lack of productivity and confidence issues. If you would like to be better at following through on your plans, read for some follow-through tips!
Under-Promise
One of the problems with regards to planning for those of us with ADHD is making too grand of plans. In short, we over-promise and cannot deliver on those promises. This is why it is better to under-promise. If your plan is to write that 10-page paper in one sitting, a more realistic plan is to write two pages in one sitting. That way, if you end up writing four pages, you have overachieved rather than underachieved.
Plan Celebrations Along the Way
As you plan out a task or a project, plan how you will celebrate accomplishing each step. Those of us with ADHD need that little boost of reward to get stuff done. Just make sure you are not celebrating too much that you forget to finish what you started. I have done that, and it predictably did not go well.
Plan for a Loss of Motivation
Losing motivation is almost inevitable. Unless it is something highly engaging and interesting, you will most likely lose motivation at some point. Before you even begin the task or project, decide how you will handle the loss of motivation. Will you give up, or will you dig deep to find a new source of motivation? One way to find a new source of motivation is to tell someone about your plans.
Tell Someone About Your Plans
Accountability is a big help for those of us with ADHD. So, when you make plans, tell someone about those plans. Having another person who will check in with you helps you do what you set out to do. This could be a friend, a mentor, or even a coach. Coaching is a great way to build accountability in your life. If you think coaching may be for you, do not hesitate to reach out. Reset ADHD is here to help.